The Raid

[Jerek]

The faint images of two ships side-by-side leapt out from hyperspace. One a fighter, the other a Dynamic-class freighter. Neither was here for an innocent reason. The Shade Slayer swerved into a defensive position. Then, the personal fighter of Jerek Kahn flew out of the cargo hold. He swiveled the fighter around to follow the Tear Runner. The two fighters flew slowly toward the shipyard.

[A®heim]

Right, I'll need you to scout out the area so I don't look too clueless. I know you don't like being told what to do, but you must stay high and most importantly, you cannot be seen...yet.

The two had discussed the basic plan in hyperspace and it needed to be executed with precision timing for it to work. Now they were descending slowly towards a shadey construction yard. Rah could just see the faint outline of a large cylindrical hull deep in the recesses of the dry dock. The Shock Hammer...

I'm splitting off now, good luck to you Jerek. Even for your kind this will not be easy.

[Jerek]

Of course. Jerek spoke into the comm system to rah. He swerved off to the left, then up. I also think we should no longer use the comm channel, encase of eavesdroppers. I know you cannot speak in this manner, but do not stress. He closed his eyes, stretching out his senses to their near breaking point. The sensory field picked up a few flickering auras. There are a few fighter guards out there, Boralis.

[A®heim]

Rah heard, or rather felt, the familiar mental experience of being spoken to telepathically. Though he disliked being at any disadvantage he had to admit that Jerek's words had wisdom.

Just don't get anxious, with luck most of those fighters won't make it off the ground. I'll flsh the Shock Hammer's running lights when I get onboard, that will be the signal to engage. Also, call me Rah. No room for pleasantry amongst pirates, over and out.

Rah closed communications with Jerek and reopened them with the ground crew of the dry dock. After some smooth persuasion and sliced numbers, the Tear Runner was given clearance to land in the main fighter bay of the Shock Hammer.

As he cruised slowly towards the bay doors, Rah glimpsed many workers interupting their final preparations of the ship to gaze inquisitively and the strange fighter hovering overhead. When the Tear Runner landed, Rah lept from the cockpit and drew his vibroblade. Tsssilk pounced onto his shoulder and gaxed around warily with his piercing reptillian eyes.

A single maintenance manager, the only occupant of the bay, approached Rah nervously.

"I-is this the experimental fighter? The one that will make a great change in the purpose of this ship as they said?"

Rah merely chuckled at the irony of this statement before running the man through with his blade and kicking him through a pile of large canisters with his taloned foot.

[Jerek]

Jerek swerved his fighter upward, avoiding some curious sensors. He closed his eyes, straining to see what was going on with his Pirate friend. A small flicker of images arose in his mind's eye. A foggish scene roared into life.
Rah laughed, running a man through with his dagger. The man was then kicked with Rah's tallened foot into some canisters. The scene faded away and Jerek opened his eyes, smirking to himself. His eyes glinted with a flicker of golden-red light. It was almost time for the raid!

[A®heim]

Rah approached one of the security panels on the side of the hanger. He grabbed the locked tore and tore it off with his brute strength. Tssslk immediately began to rip away insulation and wires, pausing only when arriving at the more "delicate circuits."

Rah found the wire that activated the reactor leak alarm. Let the fun begin Rah muttered as he gave the wire a quick tap from one of the bare elctric circuits. Immediately, a horrendous blaring noise echoed through the ship followed by the din of many paniced voices.

Rah wasted no time, however. He quickly searched out the running light circuit and gave that a quick spike as well. The main lights of the Storm Hammer flashed once. Jerek's cue...

[Jerek]

A flash of light caught Jerek's eye. He looked forward out of his fighter's cockpit. He swerved into an attack position and found his first victim. An unexpecting fighter guard on its way back to the hangar where Rah was. Jerek slammed his thumb into the trigger. Red laser light blared out of his fighter, spattering into the guard's engines. The engines caught fire and the fighter went barreling into deep space, now a giant fireball.

Suddenly laser bolts began hurtling toward Jerek. Using his limited Force Sense, Jerek swerved before the barrage started. He tracked a fighter behind him, then pulled up harshly on the throttle. His fighter went into a loop. It came in behind the opposing fire. Jerek shot it down with a well-aimed laser barrage on the other cockpit.

[A®heim]

Not a minute after he had flashed the signal, Rah heard the detonations and yelling that was doubtlessly the work of his force sensitive compatriot overhead. Rah then turned to the hanger blast doors that had sealed unexpectably when he set off the alarm.

Rah drew his blade and struck the door experimentally; not a scratch. Rah stood for a few more seconds contemplating how to remove this obstacle. A wonderfully destructive idea came to mind.

Two minutes later, the door glowed and imploded under the force of a large beam of green light emitted by one of the Tear Runner's thunder spears, incinerating a few unlucky crew members as they attempted to flee the irradiated cruiser. The craft deactivated once more as Rah climbed out smiling.

Rah opened up his wrist-mounted datapad and brought up a holographic map of the ship. After studying the map for a few seconds, Rah continued his path towards the control room slitting the confused masses of crew and construction workers as they ran past.

[Jerek]

Jerek pulled his fighter into a tight barrel-roll, nearly avoiding some missiles. He pulled back on the throttles, flying upward. He zoomed past some fighters attempting to flank him. He pulled back on the throttle sudden;y. The ship slowed and flew back in behind the two pursuers. He blasted them out of the sky with a few well-aimed blaster shots. Fighters were surrounding him, hitting his ship, leaving burns. He grumbled, throwing the fighter into another tight barrel-roll

[A®heim]

The door to the control room imploded in a scorching mass of flame and debris. The gruff Feeorin stepped cooly through the broken doorframe.

AHAHA! that's one way to do it eh? Rah chuckled. The few crew that remained stepped back fearfully drawing their blasters warily. Tssslk swooped in disarming the men easily with a swift blow to the forearm.

The crew cowered further into the corner. Rah drew his blade and brandished it menacingly at the frightened men. Now listen here scum! Get this hunk ready for takeoff and I will end your lives painlessly. Rah grabbed the nearest man and lifted him of his feet holding the vibroblade to his throat.

The crew hurriedly began adjusting the craft for takeoff, keeping one eye trained on the intimidating figure observing them. Tssslk was perched on one of the databanks eyeing one of the men hungrily.

ENOUGH! That will do. And now for my part of the deal... Rah smiled wickedly, screams quickly drowning out his laughter.

Rah took a seat at the helm and grabbed hold of the wheel. The Shock Hammer shook as it rose from the drydock. Outside the cockpit window, Jerek's fighter shot past, a squadron of fighters in pursuit. Rah flicked a switch and activated the communicator with Jerek. The Shock Hammer is ours my friend! Get what's left of your ship into the hanger so we can blow this place...literally.

[Jerek]

Right! Jerek gave himself a quick nod and shot toward his own ship, the Shade Slayer. He landed haphazardly in the small hangar and shot out of the ship with a burst of speed. He ran to the controls of his freighter. He grabbed hold and swivled around to face the shipyard. He boosted into full speed, waiting for the Shock Hammer. Waiting for docking, Rah!

[A®heim]

Tssslk! Open the hanger, hurry! Rah spun the large wheel sending the Shock Hammer into a wide turn narrowly avoiding a volley of heavy turbo laser fire as the Tulvaree pounced on the hanger door override switch.

Rah could see the Shade Slayer fling towards him with remarkable speed, defense fighters still on its tail. A blinding flash of light erupted from the ship as the shields attempted to hold off the barrage it was receiving from behind. Rah growled and slammed the autopilot into the "on" position and stumpled over to the firing control station. He didn't have to hit anything, just make sure they thought he COULD.

Rah grabbed the small control stick and flicked all the capacitor switches to full power. Ignoring the targeting computer's requests for firing coordinates, he pressed the button on the weapons array. A large beam the color of a blazing streak of lightning crackled through the atmosphere. The beam passed narrowly over the freighter into the pursuing fighter formation.

Rah shielded his eyes as one of the fighters burst into a brilliant flash of flame, the rest of them breaking off to regroup. The Shock Hammer shook violently once more as it took a direct hit in the rear quadrant. Warning lights flashed amongst the din of multiple alarm systems. Rah took hold of the wheel and continued his course towards freedom.

The rear scopes showed that the Shade Slayer was moving into docking position, under Tssslkss control, the bay door shut narrowly behind the freighter. Rah picked up the communicator and transmitted to Jerek again.

Get to the bridge as soon as possible, we need to cripple this facility before it can conjure up some reinforcements, and I can't do that alone. Rah cut the transmission and prepared the starboard torpedo tubes as best he could while taking the most evasive action he could in the bulky ship.

[Jerek]

Enchancing his movements with the Force, Jerek bolted toward the bridge. He leapt through the door before it was even open. What do you want me to do? His yellow eyes flicked to the shipyard. He felt a smirks creas his lips slightly.

[A®heim]

Rah was momentarily startled by the sudden appearance of the Jedi, but he composed himself before it could be noticed. These Force-users had strange powers...

I need to keep this ship from being blasted out from under us, so I'll need you to take over the torpedo operations. The weapon is armed and the launcher is primed. All you need to do is- Rah was cut off by another bone rattling shake and a few more alarms going off. Damn! Engines took a direct hit, we're at 30%. Targeting control has been blasted to pieces too.....Jerek, the missile can no longer guide itself...I'm turning the ship around. When I give the order, pull the trigger, with luck it will go straight.

Rah grabbed the wheel and wrenched it about. The bridge tilted at almost a 90 degree angle. The view from the bridge changed from a starry sky to a dirty shipyard with turrets ablaze and defense fighters scrambling. Rah chuckled.

FIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jerek]

Jerek launched himself into the seat that was indicated. He watched as the mahem kept going on. Jerek closed his eyes as the ship swiveled toward the shipyard. Then came Rah's piecring voice, "FIRE!" Jerek concentrated every ounce of knowledge in the Force he had on the torpedo and slambed down on the trigger. The torpedo launched. It flew through the air, leaving a streamline in its wake. Then, ti struck its target, surprisingly.

[A®heim]

The universe exploded.

A flash of light engulfed the landscape and the entire bridge of the Shock Hammer. A radiance so brilliant that all of existence seemed to have come to an end. A light followed by a crack to rival the very thunder of the gods.

The ship convulsed horrendously not a moment after throwing the occupants across the room like playthings. Rah cursed and crawled back to the wheel, still blinded by the torpedo's impact. He managed to grab hold of it and wrench it around as quickly as he could.

The light dissipated enough to show the fireball erupting upwards in a great inferno, utter desolation left in its wake. Temperature alerts joined the already numerous warning alarms as the flames began to lick at the hull. Rah tried to shout an order to Jerek but his voice was drowned out in the thundering din.

After shouting in vain for a few seconds Rah shook his head and barreled towards the Navi-Computer. Desperately, he began punching in coordinates. He didn't care where, just away. Behind the Shock Hammer, the defense fighters were consumed by the inferno and the shipyard had gone into full lock down.

Rah grabbed the wheel once more and tried to steady the violently pitching craft. The clouds cleared away revealing a clear sky....and the Sith defense fleet. Rah braced himself for annihilation when the muffled bang and sudden acceleration announced the departure into hyperspace.